Theresa May has pledged to keep Scotland in the United Kingdom if she becomes Prime Minister after Nicola Sturgeon said EU nationals would be allowed to vote in a second independence referendum.

The Home Secretary and Tory leadership frontrunner promised that defending the Union would be a “major priority” for her if she wins the contest and that Scotland would be a “strong and integral part” of the UK.

In a direct appeal to blue collar voters, she said she would try to emulate Ruth Davidson’s success in Scotland by putting the Conservatives “at the service of ordinary, working people.” She concluded that she wants “a country that works for everyone, regardless of their background.”

This would be expected to drive up the vote for Scottish separation as the First Minister has pledged an independent Scotland would join the EU, although it is not clear on what terms and the timescale for this to occur.

Sources close to the Scottish Tory leader argue that doing so would provoke a massive public backlash in Scotland that could further drive up support for separation.

However, Ms Sturgeon would also need the agreement of the UK Government to get control over the timing, the wording of the question on the ballot paper and the franchise – including whether EU nationals could vote.

Nicola Sturgeon has said EU nationals could vote in a second independence referendumCredit:
AFP

Mrs May appealed to the 15,000 Conservative members in Scotland, who will vote for the next Tory leader and prime minister, by pledging: “Strengthening and sustaining the United Kingdom must be a major priority for the next Prime Minister and under my leadership it will be.

“I will always stand up for Scotland’s place in the Union and make the clear and passionate case that we are all stronger and safer together.”

Speaking to the Scottish Mail on Sunday, she also praised Ms Davidson for overseeing the party’s revival in the recent Holyrood elections, and particularly her success at reaching out to working-class voters.

“I pledge to work with Ruth to build on that success and strive to make the whole of Britain – with Scotland as a strong and integral part of it – a country that works for everyone, regardless of their background.”

But Ms Sturgeon accused the Home Secretary of wanting to use EU nationals already in the UK as “bargaining chips” by refusing to guarantee they can stay in the country until the status of Britons living in other EU member states is guaranteed.

Writing in the SNP-supporting Sunday Herald, she described Mrs May’s stance as “a shameful stain on her credentials and her reputation that risks doing her far more damage – at home and abroad – than perhaps she realises.”

Repeating her threat of a second independence referendum, she added: “And let me be clear – EU residents in Scotland would be able to cast their vote in any such referendum, just as they were last time.”